Kyle Kasprzak

Review of Tenuta's Italian Restaurant

Tenuta's physical space is small, intimate, cozy a...

Tenuta's physical space is small, intimate, cozy and cafe-esque with a bar and patio dining, and as far as I'm concerned is quite authentic as an Italian restaurant. Typically, I'd avoid a place with such a description fearing I'd be one off 10 people in the place or the noise would be too loud to have a conversation. I'm glad that neither of these are realities with Tenuta's.

The food. I love Italian food, and quality, from scratch food that's not processed -- that's what Tenuta's serves. I've been a regularly returning patron for the last few years usually trying something new each time. The pastas are good, but oh my, the pork chop was fantastic; better than I've had at expensive chop houses and at a third the price.

House special pizza on thin crust to go -- absolutely delicious. The crust was a "beefed" up cracker thin (close to cracker thin but with heft) and held together well, and complimented the toppings and vice-versa. This pizza would have been better only if I had eaten it there immediately when served instead of 30 minutes later. What impressed me the most about this pizza was that it held up extremely well during a nearly 30 minute drive. It was still hot, crisp and firm with no hint of sogginess due to the oil or toppings that I've experienced with everyone else's thin crusts.

Tenuta's is my go to place for great pizza - all crusts are good but virgin is my favorite crust, which is significantly thick (3/8-1/2") but not a deep dish. I find the pizza travels well but I prefer to dine in for non-pizza selections.